Bulletin-board.



A. M. HENRY.

BULLETIN BOARD. APPLICATION FILED JULY is, 1906.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS M. HENRY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,'ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

' MABEL CRANE BAKER, 0F STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

BULLETIN-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5,1912.

Application filed July 19, 1906. Serial No. 326,854.

-York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bulletin-Boards, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates broadly to bulletin boards for communicating news to the public and refers more particularly to devices for accurately reproducing the progress of a base-ball or foot-ball game or other like athletic event by indicating the travel and positions of the projectile object of play used therein, as well as the progressand positions of the several players partaking in the play.

One of the objects contemplated by my invention is to provide a device of the above character which will graphically reproduce each feature of the game in such manner as will enable the public or those to whose view the device is exposed to readily understand the same.

Another object contemplated is to provide a comparatively inexpensive device, of such simple and compact construction that its setting up and taking apart may be expeditiously accomplished.

A further object is to provide, in combination with an appropriate field of the nature of that used in the particular game to be reproduced, a disk or like object which may, through means substantially invisible to the public, be shifted to any part of the field in coincidence with the actual movement of the ball or other object used in said game.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified'in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the follow ing claims.

Other objects will be in art obvious and in part pointed out hereina ter.

In the accompanying drawings, where is shown somewhat diagrammatically one of the various possible embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the rear face of the supporting wall in such I of the diamond,

embodiment. Fig. 2 is a "View in front ele-' ration of the same, showing in dotted lines the various wires, the source of electricity, switches, etc., employed in carrying out certain of the objects of my mvention. Fig.3

is an edge view of the device, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the'scoring de-.

vlces.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now particularly to the embodiment of my invention herein disclosed, wherein I have shown the same as adapted to reproduce a base-ball game, there is shown a wall 1, the outer surface'or face of which carries the representation of a base-. ball field, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. On this field will be observed a plurality of apertures marked to indicate the several positions occupied by the players.

the names of the individual players being exposed therein. .In the present instance, I have provided apertures through which may be exposed the names of the pitcher, catcher, and rst, second and third basemen, which positions are indicated by suitable characters. Extending from the base apertures are a plurality of lines outlining the shape and above the diamond are the words Right, Center and Left, indicating respectively the positions on said field coinciding with corresponding areas on the actual playing field. If desired, suitable apertures may be provided forexposing to the public the names of the fielders. In the present instance, below the diamond are two parallel horizontal rows of apertures, one row being located above the other, each of said apertures, with the exception of the one to the extreme right from the front of each row, being adapted to have exposed therein devices to indicate the run -score by innings. The said righthand apertures are adapted to have exposed therein the names of the teams playing one against the other, one name in each, the scores of each team being of course exposed in the row which extends horizontally with its name aperture; said scores being indicated, preferably, by scoring members such 175 These apertures are provided to permit of as shown in Fig. 4, adapted to be supported behind the apertures by means of pockets will also be understood that at suitable places upon -the board, if desired, can be formed-other apertures to indicate the individual names of the-players participating in the} .game, or a suitable aperture can .be o'formed for exposing therein the names ofv the players at bat, during the progress of thegame.

It will Of'COllISB be understood that while in the present embodiment of my. invention I have shown apertures provided in the wall through which the names of the players may be exposed, such names may be written or printed directly upon the board and,

if desired, electric lights or other indicating" go-devices can be positioned adjacent the names of the players so that by' 'their luminosit'y they may indicate the particular player at bat. or on base.

Wall 1' is adapted to be rigidly fixed in an upright'position upon its lower end or base 2 upon a balcony or other similar place unobstructed to theview of the public. In this illustrative embodiment of my inventionfI'pcsition up'o'n'the back or rear face 3Q of the wall a system of pantograph levers or thelike in such manner'that a movement" of the handle 3 upcna miniature field 4 1 provided upon the rear face of the wall will cause a corresponding but increased movement of the disk 5 upon the large field upon the opposite side of the wall. This disk is supported slightly raised from the surface of-such large field by means of a thin, pracother as at 14. Levers 9 and 10 are pivoted together as .at 15, and the entire system' is connected to; the wall at the proper point conveniently as at, 15.- A suitable handle 3 on the lever 8 carries the usual pointer or tracer. and occupies a given position upon field it, and disk 5, on account of the adjustment of thepantograph mechanism, will restover. a corresponding point upon the larger fieldf'upon the opposite side of the .wall, and"amovement of handle 3 to any part 'ofthe, miniature field will entail a corresponding and increased proportional movement of disk 5 to a like part of the exterior field. In the present instance,' the pantograph mechanism' is retained in place by means \;O;f .suitable guides or retaining members16.' Pockets as at 17 are formed upon'the back of the wall behindeach of the several apertimes formed therein, said pockets being Y are constituted by electric light bulbs.

adapted to receive slides of the character indicated in Fig. 4. Sim-ilarpockets 17 in' the present instance are provided back of.

the apertures adjacent the positions occupied by the players comprising the batteries. In this embodiment of my invention I have also provided a plurality of visual signals which in the present instance For instance, three of these bulbs (1, preferably of the same color, are disposedbelow the homeplate to indicate by their luminosity the strikes thrown by the pitcher; and

four similar bulbs 6, preferably of another common color, are therebelow located and adapted to indicate by their luminosity the balls thrown by the pitcher. Each of these bulbs is adapted to be thrown on or off at will by means of switches, A control'-' ling the currents B from a suitable battery C in the present instance indicated in dotted lines as being upon the back of the board. Additional signals in the present instance, in .the form of electric lights, are located adjacent the base positions disposed at" the apices of the diamond. These lights similarly are adapted tobe thrown on or off by suitable switches provided on the back of the board and are adapted to indicate. to

the public the occupancy of these points by base-runners.

The progress ofthe game may be indicated in accordance with my invention in' cation with an observer of the actual game, being played or event occurring. Other features, as balls, strikes, base-hits,

etc.,will be indicated by the movements of the disk in conjunction with the electric light bulbs. Certain other features of the game will be indicated by the-m0vement or position of the disk or the electric light bulbs individually.

I'desire it to be understood that my invention contemplates the employment of any means'which will perform the functions of the projectile disk mentioned and such means is embraced within this description, suchas, for instance, the equipping of the field in any of the embodiments with a series -of*el-ectric', light bulbs leading radially from the. pitchers box or other suitable location to various pointsin the field, any

or all of which said series may be lighted by lighting the bulbs in each series independently in succession beginning at either end of a series. These lights may be unlighted, collectively -or independently, by means of a switching means or the like within reach of the operator.

It will accordingly 'be.seen thatI have provided a device of the above characterwell adapted to attain the several ends and ob je'cts of my invention. By means of my improved bulletin board, it will be possible for an observer to follow the progress of the game or event and obtain an accurate understanding of eachrof the plays Without the necessity of attendance at the actual scene of'playing, and by reason of the simplicity of the device and the fullness with which" thereproduction is carried out, few if any above construction and many apparently.

widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the-following claims,is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the inven tion herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be saidto fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to' protect by Let ters Patent is:

l. A Wall having on one side the representation of a base ball field and a device to represent the movement or position of the ball on said field, and having a. system of pantograph levers and a smaller representation of the-field upon the opposite side, said levers being suitably attached to said wall and'arrangedto have one part of the system pass over the smaller field and another part attached to said device.

2. A wall having on one side the representation of a base ball field and a device to represent the movement or position of the ball on said field and on the other side thereof a smaller representation of the field, said wall being constructed to have exposed thereon informatory data with reference to the progress of the game and being further provided with a plurality of electric light bulbs arranged on said wall and suitably connected with a. source of electricity to indicate by their luminosity the balls and strikes thrown by the pitcher during the game, and a system of pantograph levers suitably attached to said wall and arranged to have one part of. the system pass over the smaller field and another part attached to saiddevice. a 3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a wall having upon opposite sides representations of game fields, said representations being. drawn upon different .scales, a device located upon one of said fields adapted to represent the movement or position of a ball over said field, and means adapted to move to any part of the otherfield and adapted when moved to cause a corresponding movement of said device over said first-mentiofied field.

4. In an-apparatus of thecharacter described, in combination, a support having a plurality of ball game field representations upon the support, an indicating'device located upon one of said fields and freely movable to any portion thereof and indicating by such movement certain features of the gameyand a device freely movable to any portion of the other field attached to said first mentioned device, and adapted to cause a" corresponding movement thereof over 1ts' field, and means for supporting said devices from the first mentioned support.

1 5. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a wall having a representation of a game field thereon and an indicator movable to any part of said field, and co acting with said field to indicate certain features of the game, means connected with said indicator and operated from behind the wall adapted to move the same over said field, and separate signals adapted tobe operated to lend significance to the movements of said device.

6.v In apparatus of the class described, in

- combination, a wall having thereon a representation of a game field and a device adapt ed to 1nd1cate themovements of a ball over said field and adapted to have a. movement to any portion thereof, said wall having a smaller but similar field located upon the opposite side thereof, and means movable over the smaller field and connectedj with said device adapted when moved to cause corresponding movements of said device.

7. In apparatus of the class described. in combination, a'wall having upon one side thereof a representation of a game field and upon its opposite side the representation of a similar game field but upon a smaller scale, a device upon the first-n1entioned side of said'wall adapted to represent the movement or posltion of a ball over its field. a

system of levers supported upon the oppesite side of said wall, one end of saidsvs- E...

" able member connecting said of said system with said device.

tem being movable over the smaller field and the other end thereof extending beyond the edge of the wall, and a wire or other suitprojecting end .8. In a device of the class described, in

' combination with a wall having a field which is adapted to be exposed to the view of the publicof a signal adapted to be progressively movable to'any part of said field and cooperating therewith to indicate certain features of thegame, means operable from a position. obscured from the view of the public for operating said signal, and

separate signals adapted to be operatedto lend significance to the movements of said device.

9. In a device of the character described,-

the combination with a' board having a field representation, of an indicator adapted to be "moved over the field indiscriminately to any point thereof, mechanism beyond the field for operating the indicator, and a-. th1n memberforming a substantially invisible supporting connection between the indicator and said mechanism.

'10. In a device of the class described, a surface having thereon the representation of a ball field, a devicemovable thereover to indicate the movementof a ball, a second similar representation to the representation first mentioned, and means comprising a thereover, means for moving the indicator.

comprislng a part arranged at the rear of the field, and intermediatemeans operated by said part and connected with the indicator whereby a movement ofsaid part will cause a relativelygreatermovement of the indicator.

12. In a device of the character described, the combination with a board having a field on the front thereof, of means adapted to be projected over the field'to. indicate theposition of a ball play ona field, and mechanism mounted atthe rear of the field for moving the projecting means indiscriminately to any .part of the field.

13. In a device ofthe character described, the combination. with a board having a field -on the'front thereof, ofmeans adapted to be projected .over the fieldto indicate the position of a ball-play on afield, a device located rearwardly of the field forshifting the position of said projecting means, and means operated by said device for causing the projected means to travel a distance greater than the distance traveled by the said shifting device.

14. In a device of the class described, a board having a field, an indicator adapted to play over the field, operating mechanism for the indicator which 1s pivotally mounted upon the rear of the board, and connecting means between the indicator and the operating mechanism which extends beyond the bounds of'the field.

15. In a device of the class described, a board having a field, an indicator adapted to play over the field,- operating mechanism .for the indicator which 1s pivotally mounted.

upon the rearof the board and which extends from the indicator in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the board, and non-view obstructing connecting means hetween the indicator and the operating mechanism which is carried, by the operating mechanism. i i

r 16. In a device of the class described, a board having oppositely-facing fields, pivotally-supported mechanism comprising relatively movable pa'rts adjacent one of said fields, an indicator positioned adjacent the other of said fields, and connecting means between the indicator and one of the relatively-movable parts of said mechanism.

17. In a device of the class described, a board having oppositely-facing fields, an indicator adapted to play over one of said fields, operating mechanism comprising relatively-movable parts and pivotally .supported on tl'ie'rear of the board, one of the relatively-movable parts being adapted to play over the other of said fields in a lane substantially parallel to the plane 0' the board, and connecting means between the indicator and oneof said relatively-movable parts. r

18. In a device of the class described, a board having a plurality of fields, one at the front and the other atthe rearthereof, an indicator adapted to play over one pf said fields, pivotally supported operating mechanism for the indicator comprising relatively movable parts adjacent one of said fields, and connecting means between the indicator and the operating mechanism carried by the operating mechanism.

19. In a device of the class described, a board having a plurality of fields, an indicator adapted to play over oneof said fields, pivotally-supported operating mechanism for the indicator comprising relatively movable parts adjacent one of said fields, and extending in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the board, one of said relatively movable parts being adapted to play .-over a second field, and non-view obstructing connecting means between the indicator and the operating mechanism Whl'Cll extends beyond the bounds of said mentioned'fields.

' 20. In a device of the class described, a board having .a field on its front and a field representation at-the rear of the first mentioned field, an indicator adapted toplay over the front field, operating mechanism for the indicator pivotally mounted ,upon the rear of the board, and means for suspending the indicator from said operating mechanism; I v

21. In a device of the class described, a

board having a field, an indicator adapted to play over the field, operating mechanism for the indicator pivotally mounted upon the .rear' of the board, a member carried by said operating. mechanism wh1ch extends from 7 rear to the front of the board, and. supportg means for said indicator extendingfrom sa d member over the field. g 23. In an apparatus of the ch'aracte ide- I scribed, the combination of'a board ha ing.

upon one surface field representations, a b$all indicator upon said surface, and means or moving said ball in longitudinal and 'transverse directions relative to-the field compris ing a member connected with said ballindicator and extending over-the -frontsurfaoe of the board toa point beyond the field, and an operating means connected to said memr" fber, said-meansbeing mounted at 'therear of said board;

24. In an apparatus of the 'cl1aracter described, a movable indicator, a board over whichthe indicator passes, a guide,'a device mounted to movepn sald guide, and means comprising a non-view obstructing elementv "whereby a movement of the device on said guide a given distance will result in a movement-of the indicator a different dlstance.

25.- Ina device forportraying movements of a ball on a ball field, the combination with a Wall having depict-ed thereon a ball field, indicatingmeans positioned in front of. the field, and means comprising relatively movable members extending laterally beyond the, 'field for moving'said indicating means in-, discriminatelyto any part of the field, one

of, said members being substantially invisible. 7' l 1 26. In a device foril-lustrating the movement'of a ball on a ball field, the combination with a surface" having represented thereona ball field, means for representing a ball: as being played over the field, and mechanism comprising relatively .movable parts arranged visibly beyond the field and associated with said ball representing means for moving .the same indiscriminately to any part of the field.

27. A device for indicating the progress of a game of ball comprising a surface adapted to receive the; representation of a ball field, a ballarepre's'entation and mecha-s nism for indiscriminately moving said represent ation to any partof the field toindi .cate different positions of the ball on the.

field and.so without obstructing the View of thefield. 28. In a base ball bulletin board, the combinatioh with a board having a ball field representation thereon, of means for projecti g the representation of a ball toany part 0% the field,.;said Ineanscomprising operat 'i "g instrluinent'alities located visibly beyond the fieldi and a non-view obstructing element between the projected ball representation and said operating instrumenta lities.

In testimony whereof]: affix my signature,

in the presence of two Witnesses.

.' AUGUSTUS ,M.- HENRY.

Witnesses: a J. CLYDE RIELEY, H. M. SEAMaNs. 

